Near brush,dockcattail or rock.they need a plac to hide.I use dollar store can of catfood ,small anda couple of pieces of bread or rolls.they are bot pickey.It helps to throw out a little bait any time you can to keep them around.water was too cold at my dock today [ 50.2 6ft of water] NADA.

Do you have a pond a private place to trap? If so start feeding them a little every few days after that you can feed then cast net a few as they come up for the food. I use the cheapest dog food you can buy or some old outdated bread from the bread thrift store. Also you can make you or buy a square clover leaf perch trap and float it on top of the water with a pool noodle and through your food right in the center of the floating trap. They will find there way in the trap a lot faster.

I don't know how your local Game Warden would feel about a trap in public waters.

As long as he uses a gear tag it doesn't matter how they feel. It's perfectly legal. I have had at least 4 traps stolen before so be careful who sees you put it out. They work best if they sit overnight.

Boatner, I use a Frabill 18'' x 12'' Pinfish trap. search at Academy. about $30 also was told use white Styrofoam for bait. which worked. I also use hotdogs, & etc. just about anything will work. crawfish like the Hot dogs. Hope this helps.

Styrofoam works for bait. Why use anything else? Just run a piece of string through it and then tie the other end to the bottom of the trap letting it float in the center of the trap. Bingo, your traps are always baited and ready to go. And you never make a mess in the boat.